The
registered nurses who staff Huntington Hospital’s
5-South Medical/Surgical Unit have been named
the “Best Nursing Team 2009” by Advance
for Nurses Magazine. The team graced the cover
and was featured in an article in the magazine’s
April 27 issue.
Led by nurse manager Karen Cooper,
MS, RN-BC, CNS, the team of 29 nurses were judged
against of field of nearly 100 entries from throughout
the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.
In its article, the magazine specifically
cited the unit’s implementation of Quiet
Time, an effort to encourage relaxation and promote
healing by dimming the lights, lowering voices,
playing relaxing music and offering aromatherapy
from 3:00 – 5:00 PM daily.
The judges were impressed by the
nurses’ expertise and knowledge, verified
by the remarkable fact that 100 percent of eligible
nurses are certified by the American Nurses Credentialing
Center. The 5-South team has proven to be eager
to adapt to new technology such as electronic
medical records, workstations on wheels that permit
bedside admission and charting, and a unit-wide
electronic bed tracking board.
Nurse manager Karen Cooper spoke
glowingly of her staff. “The teamwork, collaboration,
and collegiality of this team make them special,”
she said. “They inspire each other and are
a very cohesive group.”
In addition to having the “Best
Nursing Team 2009,” Huntington Hospital
is the only Long Island hospital to be awarded
Magnet status in recognition of nursing excellence,
presented by the American Nurses Credentialing
Center, two consecutive times.
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Karen
Cooper, MS, RN-BC, CNS, nurse manager of
Huntington Hospital’s
5-South Unit (center, holding flowers) is
surrounded by members of “The Best
Nursing Team 2009” as determined by
Advance for Nurses Magazine. |
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